A trip to Maine has been on my bucket list for years, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, I never thought visiting Maine would be an option.
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be traveling anywhere past my living room in the early days of the pandemic.
But somehow, I got lucky. Although NYC was the epicenter of the virus this spring, our city, along with most of the states in the Northeast, have finally gotten things under control. And that has allowed for travel to re-open, at least among the states in New England and the tri-state area.
Related: NYC in 2020: What’s Next for the City I Love?
Of course, travel during COVID-19 looks very different than travel in the past, but I was willing to take all of the necessary precautions to get out and explore after 4 long months cooped up at home.
I’m guessing many of you are feeling stir-crazy as well, which is part of the reason I’m writing this post. I want to encourage you to start traveling again too, as long as you’re safe and smart about it.
Related: 5 Easy Summer Weekend Road Trips From NYC
So what was it like visiting Maine during COVID-19?
In this post, I’m going to share everything you need to know about what it’s like traveling in Maine right now, plus all of the tips you need to have a safe and healthy trip.
Keep reading to learn more!
Wearing our masks before kayaking in New Harbor, Maine
Visiting Maine: What Are Things Like Now?
Surprisingly, visiting Maine felt pretty normal.
Yes, we wore masks whenever we were in a public place and couldn’t adequately distance ourselves from others.
And yes, we constantly used hand sanitizer and had to social distance and stand 6 feet apart from others when waiting in line.
But aside from these precautions, (which you should be taking no matter where you are), we felt like regular tourists, exploring all of the charming seaside towns of Mid-Coast Maine.
The upside for us?
It was not crowded at all!
This was my first time visiting mid-coast Maine, but I was with a friend who has been to Maine many times during the summer months. Normally, all of the places we visited would be teeming with people, and traffic would be horrendous.
Not so this year!
Instead, it felt like we had many of these places to ourselves.
The only disappointing thing is that we ran into a few people who were not following the COVID-19 protocols and did not wear masks. Unfortunately, there are people everywhere who refuse to wear masks, even back home in NYC, so we just did our best to socially distance ourselves from them.
The lighthouse at Pemaquid Point.
What Are The COVID-19 Guidelines For Visiting Maine?
The COVID-19 guidelines for visiting Maine are changing constantly, so for the most up to date information, you should visit Maine’s official government website.
When we visited, we were not required to quarantine upon arrival or even have proof of a recent, negative COVID-19 test, because we were traveling from New York.
As of the published date of this post, Maine is allowing visitors from New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont to enter without any restrictions.
If you are traveling from a state that is not listed above, you are required to either have proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test or you must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Maine.
But here’s the thing. While the state is asking you to do this, I’m not sure how they are actually enforcing this. The entire time we were in Maine, we never encountered any officials who asked us where we were traveling from or if we had recent COVID-19 test results.
I think in many states, they are setting up guidelines and assuming that you will follow them. However, there is really no efficient way to check that people are following the rules, so it’s pretty much an honor system.
Related: 10 Charming Coastal Towns to Visit in Maine
Sailing in Booth Bay Harbor
What Activities Can you Do Right Now in Maine?
The great thing about visiting Maine in the summertime is that you want to be outdoors as much as possible, enjoying nature and the beautiful surroundings.
And with COVID-19, outdoor activities are considered the safest, so in many ways, Maine is the perfect trip to take right now during this pandemic.
What activities can you do right now in Maine? Plenty!
You can go hiking, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, sailing, biking, and more.
We even went to the beach one day and it was fantastic. Maine is doing a great job of limiting the number of people who can visit the state beaches by only allowing a certain number of cars to park in the lots each day. This allows for easy social distancing on the beach, which we appreciated!
There are also plenty of coastal towns and lighthouses to visit too.
Enjoying lobster at a lobster pound in Boothbay Harbor.
Can You Eat at Restaurants and Lobster Pounds while Visiting Maine?
Thankfully, YES, because it would be a sin to visit Maine and not try the lobster!
The good thing about the lobster pounds is that most of them only have outdoor seating anyway, (which is the only way we felt comfortable eating at a restaurant), so we were grateful they were all open. Eating at a lobster pound in Maine is a quintessential experience so I highly recommend doing so if you plan a trip here.
Spoiler alert – the lobster is pretty much amazing wherever you go!
OK, so lobster pounds aside, what about the other restaurants?
Many were open with outdoor seating, but we did take-out everywhere else aside from the lobster pounds.
While eating indoors at restaurants is now permissible in southern Maine, we just didn’t feel comfortable doing that. Also, the weather was beautiful the entire time we were there, so we would have chosen to eat outside regardless.
If you are planning to visit Maine and there are certain restaurants you are eager to try – particularly in Portland, a city that is a favorite among foodies – call ahead to find out if places are open and what their safety protocols are.
Even though restaurants are allowed to serve people indoors, many of them are choosing not to. And for the places that are, most are requiring reservations now since there is such limited seating.
A shop on Exchange Street in Portland, Maine
Can You Go Shopping in Maine?
Yes, you can go shopping in Maine, and we did a lot of it!
That said, you should do your due diligence. Certain proprietors are doing more than others to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines.
While Maine is now requiring a face covering in all retail stores, we did not always see this being enforced.
Even with signs in the window, and hand sanitizer stations out front, some people ignored the rules and walked into shops without a face covering.
Taking my mask off for a brief moment for a normal photo.
What Is It Like Visiting the Bigger Cities, Like Portland?
Visiting Portland felt much like visiting the rest of Maine. While there were certainly more people, it was still much quieter than we expected it to be.
Most of the restaurants were serving food outside but we didn’t see many places open for service inside.
A nice change is that the popular Exchange Street, (known for its shops and restaurants), is now a pedestrian-only walkway. Many Portlanders are advocating for this to continue in the summertime in the future, even when there is no pandemic. (Additional pedestrian-only streets has been a nice thing about NYC as well.)
One thing to note is that certain tourist destinations are currently closed due to the Pandemic, including the Observatory. However, you can still do lots of outdoor activities. You can rent bikes, walk along the Eastern Promenade, and visit Portland’s famous lighthouse, the Portland Head Light.
Are You Ready to Visit Maine?
Now that you know what it’s like to visit Maine during COVID-19, are you ready to plan a trip here? If so, make sure to check out my post about 10 charming coastal towns to visit in Maine.
While I was nervous at first about the risks, ultimately I’m glad I went to Maine. I didn’t realize how much I needed a change of scenery until I left NYC.
Related: Visiting Provincetown, in Cape Cod, during COVID-19
While this trip did much to satisfy my wanderlust, it was also great for my mental health. Seeing new places and spending time in nature was good for me. I came back feeling refreshed and happier. My guess is we all need things right now that make us feel happier.
If you have any questions about traveling to Maine, or recommendations to share, please leave a comment below!
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